Today's News

The Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE — A lot of fresh faces will appear at the New Mexico Legislature next year as nearly a third of the state’s legislative seats will be turned over to someone new.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that 35 of the Legislature’s 112 lawmakers are new to the Legislature, have changed chambers or returned after having served in the past.
That’s the biggest turnover since 1985, when there were also 35 fresh faces, according to the Legislative Council Service.

The Associated Press
HOUSTON — Former President George H.W. Bush is being treated in the intensive care unit at a Houston hospital after suffering “a series of setbacks,” including a stubborn fever, his spokesman said.
In a brief email Wednesday, Jim McGrath, Bush’s spokesman in Houston, said the 88-year-old former leader had been admitted Sunday to the ICU at Methodist Hospital. McGrath said Bush, the oldest living former U.S. president, was alert and talking to medical staff.

ALBUQUERQUE — A police union survey found more than 40 percent of Albuquerque officers supported a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the department.
The survey came a month before the Justice Department formally announced on Nov. 27 they would investigate the department’s use of force policies and training.

Friday, Dec. 28 — Civil Defense Director John Villegas of West Las Vegas placed fallout shelter signs above the entrance to the administration building of the New Mexico State Hospital. Villegas and Sam Sampson, CD director for the City of Las Vegas, along with Tony Velarde of the U.S. Corps of Engineers, in Albuquerque, made a survey of buildings in Greater Las Vegas yesterday. Once a shelter is designated as such by the USCD, it will be stocked with food, water and medical supplies.

The San Miguel County Safe Ride Home service will extend its hours of operation during the holidays. Days of operation will include Dec. 26 through Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.. Service will still operate Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Services are provided from any liquor establishment to your home in the Las Vegas area. Call 505-429-0336 for a ride.

Friday
Mostly sunny with a high near 29. Wind chill values as low as -1. West wind around 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Friday night, mostly clear, with a low around 11. West wind 5-10 mph becoming northwest after midnight.

Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. West wind 5-15 mph becoming south in the morning. Saturday night, partly cloudy with a low around 19.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Sunday night, a 10 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

State Police will be conducting DWI Saturation Patrols, random driver’s license and registration checkpoints as well as speed enforcement and occupant restraint enforcement projects this month. State police will also be conducting a DWI Checkpoint in San Miguel County from noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 31.

By Jim Salter
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS — Fontella Bass, a St. Louis-born soul singer who hit the top of the R&B charts with “Rescue Me” in 1965, has died. She was 72.
Bass died Wednesday night at a St. Louis hospice of complications from a heart attack suffered three weeks ago, her daughter, Neuka Mitchell, said. Bass had also suffered a series of strokes over the past seven years.